Iron Kingdoms: Tides of War

[Charon]

Akina counted with Malkamar, and then when they reached the magic number she pulled on the grate hard, hoping to break it free so they could continue on their task.

[Cynical Cat]

The grate groaned, but yielded under their combined strength. Beyond it was a tunnel into the darkness.

[rhoenix]

Looking through the grate into the yawning darkness below, Zedrin took a slow, deep breath before speaking. The usual twinkle was gone from his eyes, and the look on his face spoke of determination.

After a moment, he turned to the others after walking close to the entrance. He spoke in a low voice that wasn't likely to echo below. "Well, if nobody else will volunteer to go first, I'll do so."

[Charon]

Akina shook her head. "IF hyu are sneaky. Ve should have somevun scouting. I vill be at the head of the rest of the group. I am de best armoured after all." Akina took a few steps towards the tunnel, the clanking of her feet making it clear she is not going to be doing this quietly.

[rhoenix]

Akina shook her head. "IF hyu are sneaky. Ve should have somevun scouting. I vill be at the head of the rest of the group. I am de best armoured after all." Akina took a few steps towards the tunnel, the clanking of her feet making it clear she is not going to be doing this quietly.

At this, Zedrin smiled tightly. "Before the way of the gunmage found me, I was a huntsman - stalking prey is what I do," he said while looking into the darkness below.

Crouching next to the open grate, he looked closely at the inky blackness below, and looked back at the rest, looking somewhat annoyed. "Well, I'm no elf, and that means I'll need light to see around. The lich can quite likely see just fine in the darkness, which means we'll be announcing our presence no matter what."

After saying this, he held his rifle at the ready, and gazed at its barrel intently for a few moments. Suddenly, a light glowed from the end of the barrel. At this, he smiled at the rest of the group. "Well, it can't be helped."

With that, he shone the light all around the area underneath the grate, gauging how steep the drop was, and whether there were any surprises in the immediate area before jumping down.

[Cynical Cat]

The tunnel was short, leading to ladder of metal rungs that lead up to another metal grating about ten feet above them. Faint light came from the chamber above the grating.

[rhoenix]

The tunnel was short, leading to ladder of metal rungs that lead up to another metal grating about ten feet above them. Faint light came from the chamber above the grating.

After looking to his satisfaction, Zedrin dropped down to land softly on his heels. Walking cautiously and quietly, he slung his rifle into it's holster, hiding it's light for now as he reached the foot of the ladder. Climbing with care, he reached the second metal grating, and peered through it from below before trying it.

[Cynical Cat]

A dull green light filtered down from above. Zedrin could dimly make out a high ceiling, several hoists and pulleys, dangling chains, and the underside of several work tables. The narcerous green glow was the product of several alchemical lanterns hanging from several of the chains.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Corey had followed behind, and looked up into the room from below the grate.

"home sweet home" he thought to himself and thought to scout the room

"Totenzahn, you know what to do"

The tiny snake slithered from his arm and cralwed up and poked his head through the grate looking at what, or who else was in the room, ready to slink back in at the first sign of trouble

[Cynical Cat]

Totenzhan saw the remains of worn down workshop. Junked machinery that had been cannibalized for parts lay around the room or hung from chains. Several work benches several corpses were laid out and worked on. Runes had been cut into their flesh and steel sutures helped hold the decaying flesh together. One table held nothing but dirt smeared skulls, stacked neatly into rows.

Four thralls stood at the edges of the workshop, wearing full plate armour and enshrouded by an aura of night that caused even the cold alchemical light to be feeble around them. The bane thralls held greatswords in their hands.

Two other undead attended the iron lich at the back of the warehouse. They were enshrouded in cloth and moved smoothly. The parts of their flesh that was briefly visible were covered in runes. The lich was working on a large metal case that it was securing by a chain to its waist. A faint green light came from the top of the box.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Totenzahn withdraw his head and informed the wizard who whispered back to Zedrin

"he's here, with four thralls and two other undead at the back. He works on a replenished soul cage"

[Charon]

Akina had not yet entered through the tunnel, knowing she would make far too great a racket to effectively sneak in behind the Iron Lich. Pursing her lips she looked up at the structure that was supposedly the lair of the lich, wondering if she could just cut her way in and serve as a distraction that way.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Corey inspected the grate for locks or latches.

"Totenzahn, is there another way in?"

the snake silently poked his head through the grate

[rhoenix]

Totenzahn withdrew his head and informed the wizard who whispered back to Zedrin.

"He's here, with four thralls and two other undead at the back. He works on a replenished soul cage."

Looking at Corey with a frown, Zedrin spoke very softly. "We'd better tell the others before charging ahead. The lich is prepared."

Withdrawing like a wraith, Zedrin climbed quietly back up the ladder to face the rest of the group to report back to the others what he, Corey, and Corey's familiar Totenzahn had seen.

Once he saw Akina's armored face, he adjusted his hat, and reported with a grim countenance. "Well, thanks to Corey's familiar, we saw that the iron lich is definitely in there, attended by four thralls. He's in the process of making another soul cage, but the grate between us and the room he's in looks to be too heavy to just quietly move. Anyone have any ideas?"

[LadyTevar]

"The lich has four more of the things that hit the coach? Twins....." Teghe said, cursing their luck. Like Akina, the gunmage also looked around at the building. "Is there another way inside here?"

[Cynical Cat]

Corey's familiar slithered back. "Windowsssss and doorsssss, fffront and bhaaaack, boarded upsss."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Alright, there are boarded up windows and doors" the mage thought "at the front and back"

He silently exited the tunnel and reported back

"there are other entrances, they are boarded up though"

He looked around for buildings that might fit the bill

[rhoenix]

At this, Zedrin slowly grinned. "Well, lady and gentlemen, it appears we've a number of options then."

He lightly climbed the ladder enough to vault himself up onto solid ground, facing the rest while holstering his rifle on his back. He began to pace back and forth as he thought out loud. "As I see it, we can simply swarm in from above, hoping to take the lich and his thralls by surprise. However, this also leaves us potentially open to other nasty surprises within the room, and if all of us are collected there at once, it could go nasty rather fast."

At this he looked more thoughtful, though a crafty grin grew on his face. "However, there is an idea I like more. Akina, you go down through the grate below, and without worrying about noise, force yourself through the remaining grate. The rest of us will use that as a signal, and count to three before breaking in through the doors and windows. By this time, Akina should have broken through - I'd suggest that Akina, Ardal, and Corey begin taking down the thralls, while Malkamar and I destroy any remaining soul cages he has. Teghe, you focus on harming the lich directly in the meantime. Once Malkamar and I have the soul cages destroyed, we assist the others in taking down any remaining thralls. Once they're dispatched, we take down the lich, hopefully for good."

Zedrin stopped, and crossed his arms, looking at the others with a somewhat eager grin. "Anyone have a better plan?"

(EDIT: managed to mis-spell "crafty")

[LadyTevar]

'Harming him directly?" Teghe said, his eyes wide at the audacious plan. "How in the name of Morrow do you suggest I do that?"

[rhoenix]

'Harming him directly?" Teghe said, his eyes wide at the audacious plan. "How in the name of Morrow do you suggest I do that?"

At this, Zedrin smirked. "My good Teghe, you're an accomplished gunmage with as impressive a store of mischief to inflict as I. I dare say there must be some spell you'd know that when powered into a rune bullet would do more than make that lich's eyes cross. If not, there's always simply empowering said rune bullet with raw spell energy - that should be enough to set the foul thing back a bit."

[Charon]

Akina shook her head. "I don' lik de idea very mutch of beink surrounted by 6 ghouls and an iron lich all alone. Efen if it is for a few moments. Unt if I go down der I vill make a lot of noise, de liches may come down for me unt den I vill not hav much room to move ja? I shoult hav somevun come vith me."

[rhoenix]

Akina shook her head. "I don' lik de idea very mutch of beink surrounted by 6 ghouls and an iron lich all alone. Efen if it is for a few moments. Unt if I go down der I vill make a lot of noise, de liches may come down for me unt den I vill not hav much room to move ja? I shoult hav somevun come vith me."

Zedrin nodded for a moment, and a crafty smirk appeared on his face. "Well, in that case, I think I've a good revision, and it should make most of us happy. How about Malkamar accompanies Akina through the lower entrance and provides her with cover fire, and with taking down the thralls at first. As a revision, Teghe, you help me with sniping out the lich's soul cages. How does that sound to everyone?"

(EDIT: the missing "y" in "crafty" has struck again.)

[LadyTevar]

"Much better," Teghe said, although a smirk was tugging at the corner of his mouth. Everyone seemed very willing to match the Paladin up with the female warrior. Poor Malk... he didn't stand a chance with everyone ganging up on him like that. He could use a good lay, tho.

[Charon]

Akina's reaction to this change was invisible under the helmet she wore. The helmet turned to look at Malkamar and paused for a moment. "He has sufficient ranged vepons for de task." Akina's helmet nodded and she turned back towards the grate. "I am ready."

[SirNitram]

"Let us begin immediately, then. The longer we wait, the higher the chance the lich will locate us."